Chapter 32 Unable to Hold His liquor
As dawn approached, Xie Qi escorted her back to Chuntang Garden and then left. Jiang Zhi was alone in her room, looking at the earring in her hand.
These are the belongings of a young lady from Qifenglou.
This young woman was the lover of the assassin who had been captured by Lu Yuan some time ago.
Although her time at Qifeng Tower was unbearable, Jiang Zhi did learn a lot from the time she spent with that man, and learned many inside stories that even as the daughter of a high-ranking official, she would never have had the opportunity to know.
She began to look forward to the flower-viewing banquet in her past life that had ruined her reputation.
*
On the fifth day of the fourth lunar month, the Jiang family held a flower-viewing banquet.
A few years ago, Jiang Zhengting acquired several peonies from the Qinglong Womochi and Baixueta varieties, as well as some other precious peony varieties, by chance. So every April, when the flowers are in full bloom, Jiang Zhengting would invite his colleagues and friends from the capital to come and enjoy the flowers and drinks.
As the matriarch of the Jiang family, Wang Yuru naturally took charge of organizing and hosting such an important banquet.
Unlike in previous years, she also specially invited the Earl of Loyalty this year.
As the spring weather improved, she specially ordered a pergola to be built and a screen to be placed in the garden.
The wives and concubines who came to the banquet could enjoy tea and flowers, and feel the gentle spring breeze. It was much more pleasant and carefree than being cooped up indoors.
Jiang Zhi watched as Wang Yuru busied herself connecting with everyone, chatting enthusiastically.
She sat to the side listening to the two noble ladies gossiping. When she heard that the son of Minister Du had an affair with Minister Du's concubine and was caught in the study by Minister Du and beaten up, an unfamiliar maid brought up a plate of clear wine.
Jiang Zhi raised an eyebrow and looked over.
"This is a honey wine newly developed by my wife. It is sweet and refreshing, unlike ordinary wines which are strong and spicy. It has a unique flavor. Please, esteemed guests, try it."
Everyone else looked on with curiosity and gathered around to see.
The maid handed one of the cups of honey wine that had been poured to Jiang Zhi.
In her past life, she had drunk this very wine and felt intensely hot all over, which led Yan Wenkang to drag her into the private room, where she was unable to resist. This time, she had taken medication to alleviate the symptoms beforehand, and she was determined not to let them succeed so easily.
Jiang Zhi took the wine cup and took a few small sips. Seeing that the maid had indeed breathed a sigh of relief, put the things away, and then left.
After a while, she pretended that the drug was taking effect, and kept fanning herself with a round fan, fidgeting in her seat as if she couldn't breathe.
Those around her noticed her unusual behavior. "Miss Jiang, is something wrong?"
Jiang Zhi tugged at her collar impatiently, "I don't know why I feel a little suffocated. Do any of you feel this way?"
"So much trouble," Jiang Yunqian scoffed from the side. "I hope you don't embarrass the Jiang family in front of so many distinguished guests."
“Yun’er, don’t talk nonsense,” Wang Yuru, who had been paying close attention to Jiang Zhi’s condition, stepped forward and said with feigned concern, “I see that Miss is not feeling well. Should we ask the family physician to come and take a look?”
"No need, no need. I guess I can't hold my liquor. I'll just go out for some fresh air." Jiang Zhi said, and was about to get up, but her legs gave way and she sat back down.
Wang Yuru then laughed and said loudly, "Miss, you can't hold your liquor. One cup of honey wine and you're knocked out. You should go and rest for a while. Your sister and I will take care of everything here. Qingxing, why don't you hurry up and help your young lady back?"
Jiang Zhi was then helped by Qing Xing to walk towards Chun Tang Garden.
She had only been gone a short while when two servants rushed over, claiming that there was a problem with the peonies in the flower room and they were in dire need of help. Ignoring Qingxing's objections, they half-coaxed and half-forced her away.
Before leaving, Qingxing nodded to Jiang Zhi without leaving a trace.
The young lady had already instructed her that after being sent away, she should find an opportunity to leave the manor and go to the Northern Garrison to find Lord Lu Yuan.
She secretly clutched the jade hairpin that her mistress had given her.
That was the apology that Lord Lu gave to Miss when he first came to the Jiang residence.
I only hope that Lord Lu will come to the Jiang residence for the sake of this jade hairpin.
Qingxing had just left when Yan Wenkang appeared in front of Jiang Zhi.
He stood guard on the only way for Jiang Zhi to return to Chuntang Garden. The maids and servants around him had long been sent away by Wang Yuru, and no one would come over.
Upon seeing Jiang Zhi, a sinister smile immediately appeared on his ashen face. "Miss Jiang, you didn't expect to run into me here, did you?"
After returning from the Marquis of Wuyi's residence that day, he had a high fever for several days in a row, and his body had become much thinner. His dark circles were so pronounced that even the heaviest makeup couldn't cover them up.
He had just recovered from his illness a few days ago, and now he's throwing a big banquet at Shuyu Tower to invite a bunch of his cronies to get rid of bad luck.
This time, he was determined to win her over and make this woman his own!
"Young Master Yan is worse than a stray dog on the street. Hasn't he learned his lesson yet with his persistent pestering?" Jiang Zhi said with disgust.
Yan Wenkang rubbed his hands together impatiently. "Miss Jiang, you're now like a fish on a chopping board, yet you still dare to be stubborn. Haven't you noticed anything unusual about your body?"
Jiang Zhi naturally knew.
Although she had taken medication to alleviate the symptoms and was not completely out of her mind, it was still alcohol, and she was indeed not a strong drinker. She could clearly feel a surge of heat rising up inside her body.
A look of panic crossed her face. "Could it be... the honey wine from earlier?"
"Hahaha, you finally figured it out. Madam Jiang is indeed generous, personally administering the drug and delivering Miss Jiang to me. Don't worry, all outsiders here have been dismissed, so even if Miss Jiang shouts loudly, it won't make a difference." Yan Wenkang said smugly, having long forgotten Xie Qi's threat to him by the lotus pond.
Now that Xie Qi is not here, and this is in the backyard of the Jiang residence, who else will come to rescue her?
But she had a flushed face and a soft, fragrant body, like a flower waiting to be picked, which made Yan Wenkang's heart itch unbearably.
And in a little while, Madam Jiang and her mother will arrive with everyone to "catch the adulterers," so he has to hurry and have a good taste of this eldest daughter of the Jiang family before they arrive.
He couldn't wait to reach out and grab her.
Jiang Zhi's expression remained unchanged; she simply looked at him and asked calmly, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Yan Wenkang burst into laughter.
"You're weak all over from the drug, and no one else has come to this backyard. I'd like to see what you're made of..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yan Wenkang saw a flash of silver light before his eyes.
Before he could even react to what it was, a sharp, excruciating pain shot through his eye socket!
"Ah—" A shrill scream rang out.
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